Do you have any experience or data suggesting otherwise? This isn't meant to be a dissertation here. I have a fair amount of knowledge in the industry so I generally know what I'm talking about.

Most restaurants use only a handful of POS systems. Any of which are capable of splitting checks, and much more. Servers can split by who ordered what, or just evenly split the total by 2/3/4+ people. They can also combine checks if one person offers to pick up a tab. If a restaurant does use an older, more obscure system that does not provide this functionality, the original check can just be voided, and the server can re-enter the orders onto separate checks.

However, splitting a check between 8..10..15 people is time consuming. It is even more time consuming to then collect 15 credit cards, swipe each card, organize all of the receipts and deliver them to the respective guest. Still not done, the server collects all 15 signed copies (hoping they didn't forget to sign, or didn't take the signed copy with them, which often happens), and has to go back to the computer to enter each of the tips. More receipts, more work for the server, who hasn't been able to refill drinks or deliver food to their other tables and now those guests are unhappy and probably will leave a smaller tip.

Suffice it to say, when a server says the computer wont do it, this is why.



If a restaurant's client base is a lot of business lunches, birthdays, families, couples etc. I'd assume less split checks. If there are mainly younger, single customers or students then split checks are the norm. I wouldn't assume any correlation between North/South and "cheapness" without first taking into considering many other factors.